The Tolovana Arts Colony is registered 501(c3) non-profit organization.
Our mission is to provide affordable, year-round arts-related education, inspiration and cultural programming to residents and visitors of Cannon Beach.
The Gathering Returns: November 8-10
The Gathering, a celebration of Native American Heritage Month, returns to Cannon Beach for a weekend of art, music, poetry, presentations and more, November 8th-10th.
The weekend begins on Friday, November 8th with a free concert from the stirring Los Angeles based folk singer Raye Zaragoza. The concert begins at 7PM at the Coaster Theatre. More information on the concert is available here.
Full schedule here.
All programs are being offered free of charge (donations are encouraged).
The event is produced by Cannon Beach community nonprofits, including: The Tolovana Arts Colony, Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, The Cannon Beach Arts Association, The Coaster Theatre Playhouse and the Cannon Beach Library and the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce.
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We gratefully acknowledge the Clatsop and Nehalem/Tillamook Peoples on whose ancestral homelands we gather
Raye Zaragoza Performs Free Concert on Friday, Nov 8th at the Coaster Theatre
With galvanizing, original folk songs, Raye Zaragoza kicks of the second-annual Gathering with a free concert at the Coaster Theatre on Friday, November 8th.
Based in Los Angeles, Zaragoza’s indigenous roots inform her artistry.
“The Native community in LA has been a huge part of my life since I moved here at 14,” she Zaragoza says. “Indigenous artists aren’t played on the radio or given space in mainstream publications enough, so I do what I can to be as proud as I can and pave the way for other artists too.”
Zaragoza first drew national attention in 2016 with the song “In The River,” written in protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Her 2020 album “Woman of Color” was recognized in NPR’s “Best Protest Music” of 2020.
In introducing her Tiny Desk concert, NPR wrote: “Zaragoza is a natural performer, able to go big … or pare it all back.”
A feminist undercurrent courses throughout “Hold That Spirit,” Zaragoza’s most recent album. The meditative folk ballad “Strong Woman,” celebrates a world led and built by women.
The concert, produced by the Tolovana Arts Colony, is offered free of charge. Donations are encouraged.
The show begins at 7:00PM. Doors open at 6:30PM. And opening act is to be announced.
The Coaster Theatre is located at 108 N Hemlock St in Cannon Beach.
Big Band Soul, Funk and Blues: Ben Rice & The PDX Hustle Rock Cannon Beach Sunday, September 8th
Ben Rice & The PDX Hustle present a free concert in Cannon Beach’s downtown city park, at 5:00PM on Sunday, September 8th.
While Rice started in traditional blues, he’s built upon that foundation with soul, R&B, folk and country to fashion a welcoming front porch where everybody wants to hang out into the wee hours.
The electric and high-energy band features a horn section and a thumping rhythm section to get your body moving.
“My goal is to reach people in a way that they need to be reached,” Rice says, “to say things they may not get to say or hear things they may not normally get to hear.”
This free, family friendly concert, in Cannon Beach’s downtown city park, begins at 5:00PM. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, low-backed chairs and fully stocked picnic baskets. Dogs, Frisbees, soccer balls and the like are welcome too.
The park is located in downtown Cannon Beach, northeast of the Chamber of Commerce at 2nd & Spruce.
The concert is produced by the Tolovana Arts Colony and made possible by a Community Grant from the City of Cannon Beach.
For more information, visit tolovanaartscolony.org, email tolovanaartscolony@gmail.com, or call 541-215-4445.
On Sunday, August 4th, the Terry Robb Electric Quartet perform a free concert in Cannon Beach’s downtown city park.
Terry Robb is hailed as a blues guitar virtuoso and one of the finest guitarists on the international scene. His signature fingerpicking style has earned him international acclaim from worldwide audiences, esteemed music critics and his distinguished peers. Incorporating elements from Delta blues, ragtime, country, swing and jazz, Robb has built a unique blues sound that has made him a legend in his prolific music career spanning four decades.
He’ll be joined by his rollicking, electric band.
The free, family friendly concert, in Cannon Beach’s downtown city park, begins at 5:00PM. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, low-backed chairs and fully stocked picnic baskets. Dogs, Frisbees, soccer balls and the like are welcome too.
The park is located in downtown Cannon Beach, northeast of the Chamber of Commerce at 2nd & Spruce.
The concert is produced by the Tolovana Arts Colony and made possible by a Community Grant from the City of Cannon Beach. For more information, visit tolovanaartscolony.org, email tolovanaartscolony@gmail.com, or call 541-215-4445.
This coming Saturday, July 27th, we're partnering with the Cannon Beach Arts Association to put on a Arts and Crafts Fair. In the square outside the Coaster Theatre you'll find all kinds of wonder, locally made arts an crafts--everything from handmade quilts, baskets, paintings, jewelry, ceramics and more! The event runs from 1:30-6:30PM. Come on down and support our local makers!
LaRhonda Steele, Returns to Cannon Beach Sunday, July 14th
Are you ready to share the love and dance along to some soul-stirring, irresistible blues?
Join us on Sunday, July 14st in the park for the iconic LaRhonda Steele!
Steele began her musical journey in Jones, Oklahoma at age 13, singing her first solo in church.
She's since become a staple of the Portland blues, gospel and soul scenes. Steele was named "Best Female Vocalist" by the Cascade Blues Association in back-to-back years of 2016-17.
Steele is also the musical director of the nonprofit Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Portland Center for Spiritual Living.
To Steele, music is about coming together, sharing joy.
The free, family friendly concert, in Cannon Beach’s downtown city park, begins at 5:00PM. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, low-backed chairs and fully stocked picnic baskets. Dogs, Frisbees, soccer balls and the like are welcome too.
The park is located in downtown Cannon Beach, northeast of the Chamber of Commerce at 2nd & Spruce.
The concert is produced by the Tolovana Arts Colony and made possible by a Community Grant from the City of Cannon Beach.
For more information, visit tolovanaartscolony.org, email tolovanaartscolony@gmail.com, or call 541-215-4445.
Community Potluck on June 20th
Join your friends and neighbors for a Community Potluck at 6PM on Thursday, June 20th at Tolovana Hall.
We’re hoping for nice weather—in that case we’ll enjoy the outdoor garden and deck space around the Hall.
Who knows, maybe someone will bring a BBQ? Could it be… you?
After dinner we’ll enjoy some brief remarks from cultural historian Ron Craig, whose topic will be: "shining a light on hidden heroes.”
So please join us. Bring a dish to share. See you next Thursday!
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Tolovana Hall is located at 3379 S Hemlock in Cannon Beach. For more information, visit tolovanartscolony.org or call 541-215-4445.
Puttz Returns Tuesday, June 4th
It's almost time! Cannon Beach's favorite city-wide mini-golf tournament tees off on Tuesday, June 4th!
We've got a incredible course taking shape, with a whopping 18 Holes!
It's an incredible community effort and we've want to thank our Hole Hosts for making it possible:
American Legion Post 168, Basalt Studio, Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, Bill’s Tavern/Cannon Beach Smokehouse, The Bistro, Cannon Beach Arts Association, Cannon Beach Hardware, The Chocolate Cafe, The Coaster Theatre, The Driftwood, Fetch, Found, Four Paws, Kramer and Walker, Schwietert's Cones and Candy, Sea Breeze Court, The Waves Hotel, The Wine Shack
Give them a hand, folks!
As always, the 19th Hole afterparty takes place at the Legion, where we'll revel in a raffle and silent auction. We're putting together some fabulous auction items and once again, here, we have to thank the Cannon Beach community for being so generous! Puttz is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we so appreciate the support.
Regarding the party/silent auction we've got another amazing announcement: Jack, JJ and the folks from The Bistro will be cooking up some incredible eats--you won't want to miss it!
We also want to thank Jonathan and Alex for holding down the Puttz kitchen for so many years.
Remember, sign-up takes place at Sandpiper Square. The holes are open from 1-to-5PM and the silent auction, raffle and party to follow. Golf fees are $15 per person or $50 per foursome. Grab some friends, some fancy duds and we'll see June 4th!
Join us Saturday, April 13th and learn to transform plants into paper!
In this workshop we’ll use locally harvested plants and explore the process of turning fiber into lovely paper. We’ll beat, cook, blend form pulp from “seed to sheet.”
The workshop is taught by Betty Gearen.
Tuition is just $12. Space is limited and RSVP’s are required. Secure your space now by emailing tolovanaartscolony@gmail.com or by calling 541-215-4445.
The two-hour class begins at 2PM on Saturday, April 13th at Tolovana Hall in Cannon Beach.
Tolovana Hall is located at 3779 S. Hemlock in Cannon Beach. For more information, visit tolovanaartscolony.org or call 541-215-4445.
This workshop is produced in partnership with the City of Cannon Beach’s 12 Days of Earth Day celebration. For other 12 Days of Earth Day events, visit: https://www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us/publicworks/page/12-days-earth-day
Comedians from across the country are coming to the coast for the fourth-annual Cannon Beach Comedy Festival, March 8th and 9th.
Headliners include: Atlanta's Baron Vaughn, Denver's Adam Cayton-Holland, Los Angeles' Eddie Pepitone and New York City's Cholë Radcliffe.
Indeed, it's an incredible lineup that also includes numerous of the northwest's best stand ups.
The two-day fest takes place at the Coaster Theatre in Cannon Beach. Tickets are available at cannonbeachcomedyfestival.com.
As a stand-up comedian, Baron Vaughn has been entertaining audiences for more than 20 years. He has two influential comedy recordings, Raised by Cable and Blaxistential Crisis, both available for streaming on all platforms. As an actor, Baron is best known as “Bud," sharing the screen with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin on the longest-running hit Netflix series, Grace & Frankie. Baron lends his voice as "Tom Servo" in the recent seasons of cult-hit, Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Adam Cayton-Holland is a national touring comic who has appeared on CONAN, WTF with Marc Maron, Comedy Central Presents, The Late Late Show with James Corden, @midnight, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, and more. He has been named one of Esquire magazine’s “25 Comics to Watch” and one of “10 Comics to Watch” by Variety. Along with his cohorts in The Grawlix, Adam created, wrote, and starred in “Those Who Can’t,” which aired for three seasons on truTV.
Nicknamed “The Bitter Buddha,” Eddie Pepitone is a master of the dark art of comedy. Eddie is hailed as a modern day cross between Jackie Gleason, Don Rickles and Eckart Tolle. On stage, Eddie is a force of nature, switching between social rage and tender self-doubt. His shows are an energetic combo of calm and chaos, blue-collar angst and sardonic enlightenment. Few comedians working today channel the power of the rant better than Eddie Pepitone.
Chloë Radcliffe is a NYC-based standup comic, actor, and writer. She starred in COMMAND Z from Steven Soderbergh. Her Comedy Central: Featuring set debuted in 2022. She staffed on the sketch writing team for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon from 2019-2020. She was named a TBS Comic To Watch at the New York Comedy Festival, has been seen on Epix, and was selected for NBC’s 2019 Late Night Writers Workshop. She produces Minneapolis’ 10,000 Laughs Comedy Festival.
And if that isn't enough talent, the Cannon Beach Comedy Festival boasts some of Portland's best comedians, including "Portland's Funniest Person" award winner Arlo Weierhauser, madcap multi-media maestro Phil Schallberger, Portland Mercury "Undisputable Genius of Comedy" Amanda Arnold and more.
The Cannon Beach Comedy Festival is produced by the nonprofit Tolovana Arts Colony and made possible by a grant from the City of Cannon Beach's Tourism and Arts Fund (it's what makes these tickets so affordable).
For tickets, lodging information and to see last-minute additions to the lineup--there will be more!--visit cannonbeachcomedyfestival.com.
For press inquiries, contact the Tolovana Arts Colony by emailing tolovanaartscolony@gmail.com, or by calling 541-215-4445.
The Holiday Bazaar returns the first two weekends in December.
Shop December 2nd-3rd & 9th-10th. Plus: Opening Reception Party on Friday, December 1st from 5:30-7:30PM
Why shop online or brave the big box stores when you could shower your loved ones with one-of-a-kind, locally made gifts that support your community?
Choosing The Tolovana Arts Colony's annual Holiday Gift Bazaar is a no brainer--a lively and meaningful antidote to cold, corporate consumerism.
The Bazaar runs for two weekends, Dec. 2rd ,3rd & 9th, 10th, from noon to 5PM each day.
But wait... that's not all!
The Opening Night Reception Party returns, Friday, December 1st from 6-to-8PM!
We'll have hot food, drinks and sweets to go alongside all the fabulous items on offer at the Bazaar.
On display--and available for purchase--will be a stunning array of works from local artists and crafters including everything from jewelry to house wares, fine arts to clothing, snacks, beauty products and more. Indeed, there'll be something for everyone. Surprises abound!
But be advised: some of these are one-of-a-kind items and many will be scooped up quick.
Besides offering some of the coolest, locally-made art and crafts around, gift buying at the bazaar provides critical support to local artists and crafters. Your purchases are a big deal--especially at this time of year.
So rather than adding to fuel to Bezos's rocket, keep it in the community and shop with purpose!
For more information, visit tolovanaartscolony.org, email tolovanaartscolony@gmail.com or call 541-215-4445.
Tolovana Hall is located at 3779 S. Hemlock in Cannon Beach.
GATHERING, A CELEBRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, NOV. 10-12 IN CANNON BEACH
Cannon Beach community groups are teaming up to celebrate Native American Heritage Month with "Gathering,” a weekend of art, music, culture, food and more from Friday November 10 to Sunday November 12.
All programs are offered free of charge (donations are encouraged).
Friday, November 10th kicks off with a concert at the Cannon Beach Coaster Theatre featuring The Blackbird Band and Quiltman.
The celebration continues on Saturday, Nov. 11th at the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum, featuring presentations by artists Ceara Lewis (Aleut), Ravenwolf (Koyukon Athabaskan/Muscogee Creek), and a presentation by Brad Mix (Red River Métis).
The weekend concludes on Nov. 12 with a luncheon honoring corn at Tolovana Hall. The final event will include “decolonized fry bread” from Zoe Swain (MesoAmerican), poetry reading by Cliff Taylor (Ponca), and storytelling led by Marisol Quintana (Purépecha).
Throughout the weekend—and during the month of November—Terresa White (Yup’ik) will be the featured artist at the Cannon Beach Gallery’s annual miniature show.
“Our community has long been a gathering place,” says Andrea Suarez-Kemp, Development Manager of the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. “Here’s a chance for us to showcase our capacity and strengthen the rapport between residents and visitors.”
This is a longstanding challenge for many resort destinations. It involves a rebalancing of priorities to better meet the basic needs of community – like clean water, affordable housing, and food security. Such needs have been largely unmet for generations of Native American families. More and more are beginning to relate. Art, culture, and heritage help energize us to move forward.
Suarez-Kemp is aware of her Taino roots as she works to expand exhibits and programming for Indigenous people at the museum.
“Promoters of tourism often call this the Columbia-Pacific region,” she says. “Yet I think of all the wonders that were here before Columbus first met my ancestors when he landed in the Western Hemisphere.”
Local organizers view this as part of a larger opportunity: using the power of hospitality and friendship to connect people more deeply with the places we live and visit. For more information contact Andrew R Tonry, program director for the Tolovana Arts Colony.
In solidarity with all Clatsop and Nehalem/Tillamook Peoples, thanking every Indigenous ancestor who shared in the art of human community.
